The Walnut Tree
A walnut tree by the roadside complains that it is pelted with stones for its fruit.
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By the roadside stood a huge walnut tree. Every autumn its branches filled with walnuts, and everyone who passed threw stones at it, flung sticks at it and knocked down its walnuts. Its branches broke and its leaves fell.
One day the tree sighed: "How unlucky I am! I give my fruit to everyone, and in return I get stones. My neighbor the pine gives no fruit; nobody throws stones at him. I wish I gave no fruit either."
An old woman passing by heard this. She stopped and laid her hand on the tree's trunk: "Walnut tree, you get stones because you have something to give. Nobody throws stones at the pine because there is nothing to take from him. For a hundred years on this road the children who ate your walnuts grew up, and their children grew up. Nobody remembers the pine; everybody remembers you."
The tree thought about it. The woman took a walnut, cracked it, ate it and went on her way smiling.
That autumn the stones came again. This time the tree did not complain. It bent its branches a little lower; the children reached the walnuts with their hands and did not have to throw stones.
The tale ends here. Sleep well.
The Walnut Tree is a children's tale from Aesop, suitable for ages 4-9 and about 1 minutes long. Read it free on Masal Merkezi, play a lullaby or nature sound in the background, tap any word to see its Turkish meaning and save it to your favorites. For similar tales browse the Aesop's Fables category.
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